About Us

Our Story.

We’re Lisa & Dustin DeMeritt, co-founders of DinkyBalls and former owners of Pickles Indoor Pickleball Club. But more than anything, we’re just two people who fell in love, with the game, the community, and the people who made it feel like home.

When we opened Pickles in 2021, it wasn’t part of a big plan. Just a simple idea: create a space where anyone, any age, any ability, any background, could show up and feel like they belonged. What happened next was more than we ever imagined. Players came for the game but stayed for each other.

After years behind the counter, watching matches, chatting between games, getting to know hundreds of players, we started to see something special. Everyone had a unique style. A personality that showed up with every serve, lob, and laugh.

That’s how DinkyBalls came to life, not from a dream, but from the court itself. Shaped by the quirks, spirit, and confidence of the players we met every day. One by one, the personalities revealed themselves: the loud, the quiet, the quirky, the intense, the encouragers, the competitors. What started as observation became celebration. We just gave those characters names and a little flair, so players could wear them like a badge of honor. To play their way. To own their awesomeness. To be themselves.

DinkyBalls isn’t just a brand. It’s a reflection, a playful, heartfelt expression of the people who make the court feel like home.

If we’ve learned anything, it’s this: Be you. The world will adjust!

From Court to character.

Our Purpose.

Is to connect people of all ages, shapes, backgrounds, beliefs and abilities, so that they can elevate themselves, enrich the lives of others and find a sense of belonging anywhere.

We believe that in the heart of every individual lies a unique character, a DinkyBall, waiting to be discovered. We're here to celebrate pickleball and welcome that distinctiveness. From the ping of the paddle to the whiff of the ball, every move you make adds to the collective of our diverse talents. You might be an old pro or a first-timer, a lobber or a banger. We celebrate every player's colorful background, beliefs, and ability, for they fuel our journey and inform our vision.

Our origins may be muddled in the nostalgic past of court sports, but our purpose is clear: to create an inclusive culture where everyone can join in on the joy of pickleball.

We’re a whacky bunch! So, whoever you are or however you play, we’re in your court. You're part of our story, in fact you are the story. We’re thrilled to have you with us as we continue to roll forward, inviting camaraderie and celebrating the power of the pickleball community.

Here's to the sport that brings us together. Here's to the spirit that keeps us united. Here's to DinkyBalls; "one for all, and all for fun!"

See ya' on the courts!